NSF Fastlane Submission Hints

FastLane DatabaseTo register as a PI in the FastLane Database, please provide the following information below and e-mail to Beth Free (bfree@latech.edu).

Information your SRO needs to add you as a PI

First Name

Street Address

Last Name

City, State, Zip

Middle Initial

E-mail Address

Suffix(e.g., Jr., Sr., III)

Business Phone

Department

Fax Number

Degree Type & Year

FastLane InstructionsFor FastLane instructions, please go here. If you would like to walk through the entire Fastlane process, go to their Demo site here. Also, you can call or contact the FastLane help desk with any specific problems at 800.673.6188, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. (EST). Email user support can be reached here or call an automated recording at 800.437.7408.

Timing is CrucialIt is not necessary to have every piece of information loaded on FastLane before you route your proposal for internal approval. As soon as you have a budget and narrative draft, go ahead and route for internal approval. Complete the cover page and beginning loading standard information such as current and pending support, letters of support, biographical sketches as soon as you have them available. It helps if the foundation information is out of the way as you complete your final narrative and budget information. With FastLane, the upload simply put - takes time! Often a PI may be timed-out of an upload, or simply may run out of time loading documents. So start loading information days before the due date.

Allow SRO AccessAs soon as you begin uploading items in your proposal, you can allow SRO access to review or edit your proposal. When you are ready to submit, you would again click 'allow SRO access' to submit your proposal. OSP stays in close communication with the PI to make sure that information is ready before a submission takes place.

Intellectual Merit and Broader ImpactThe NSF review criteria is outlined in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide. Both merit criteria must be included in the project summary with separate headings or the proposal will be returned without review. For more information, please visit the FastLane Merit Review link, here.